Deuteronomy 27:15-2615Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 20Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. 21Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. 22Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 23Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. 24Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. 25Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:15‑26)
WE WERE noticing last week that six of the tribes of Israel were to stand on mount Gerizim to bless the people, and the other six on mount Ebal were to curse. The Levites were to speak and say with a loud voice, “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord,... and putteth it in a secret place.” And all the people were to answer and say, Amen. There were twelve curses, and the people were to say, Amen to them all.
Israel had put themselves under law and God would have them know (and us too) that every one who did not continue in the law of the Lord was cursed. We look in vain for the blessings in this chapter. There are none. It is all curses. Then why are there no blessings? we might ask. The answer is a solemn one. Man is a sinner, he has broken the holy commandments and all hope of finding blessing from the law is gone.
The law is good; it is we who are bad. So all is ruin on that ground. “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Gal. 3:1010For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10). We cannot keep it so as to be saved.
God wrote the holy Commandments on tables of stone. When broken those stones could never be restored. And a poor sinner who hopes he can be saved by keeping those Commandments only finds out the strength of sin working in him. He sins not just once but times without number. The law does not know how to forgive. Indeed it cannot, so all hope of his being saved on that ground is gone.
But how wonderful and precious it is to find that the One who gave that law is Himself a forgiving God. He gives us Himself this sweet assurance in His Word: “If Thou, LORD, shouldst mark iniquity, O LORD, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee.” Psalm 130:33If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (Psalm 130:3). Again, “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity,” who “delighteth in mercy” and who will cast all our sins “into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18,1918Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18‑19).)
God has found a way whereby He can bless poor ruined sinners when they have no other hope. And as always, Christ is His answer. Jesus has died. On the cross He took our place in the judgment we deserved. He has “redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Gal. 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13). “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).
Surely we ought to be overwhelmed at such a display of grace! Certainly we do well to be bowed low in the presence of such goodness, but at the same time our souls should be in perfect peace with God.
ML-01/18/1976